Bledsoe Wants To Stay

NFL Beat

Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe says he wants to finish his career in New England despite a disappointing season in which his team is in last place in the AFC East.

Bledsoe is in the next-to-last season of a seven-year, $42 million contract he signed in 1995. If the deal isn't restructured, he will cost the Patriots $9.8 million in salary-cap room next season.

There has been speculation that Bledsoe wouldn't mind being traded to the Seattle Seahawks, who play in his home state of Washington and are in the market for a quarterback.

But Bledsoe made it clear Wednesday he is hoping for a long-term deal in New England.

"It all starts with ownership," Bledsoe said. "We have one of the most influential owners [Bob Kraft] in the league and an owner that's very committed to winning football games. That's where it starts."

The Patriots are 4-10 and struggling through their first losing season since 1995.

PANTHERS' WHITE UNDECIDED

Reggie White ended his one-year retirement for a shot at winning another Super Bowl. The Carolina Panthers won't do that this season, and White isn't sure whether he wants to try again next year.

"I need to see what the team wants to do, then I have to sit down and decide what I want to do," White said. "I'll make that decision after the season."

White, the NFL's career leader in sacks, will turn 39 next week. He played 14 years for Philadelphia and Green Bay before retiring after the 1998 season.

He built a house in Charlotte, N.C., during his time off, and after deciding he wanted to play football again, he joined the Panthers in July. He said at the time it was because he thought Carolina could make a run at the Super Bowl.

But the Panthers (6-8) won't make the playoffs this year, and White didn't have the year he thought he would.

With two games left, White has only 25 total tackles and 51/2 sacks. In his final year with Green Bay in 1998, White had 45 tackles, 16 sacks and was chosen the league's top defensive player.

TESTAVERDE PROBABLE

Quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who injured his left groin in the Jets' loss to the Oakland Raiders, is listed as probable for New York's game Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

Testaverde has been receiving treatment to the groin since the team arrived from Oakland early Monday. He underwent magnetic resonance imaging, which showed no tears or any other alarming details. He practiced and took his usual repetitions.

BEARS' MCNOWN STARTING

Chicago Bears quarterback Cade McNown will start Sunday's game at San Francisco after missing six weeks because of a separated left shoulder.

He hasn't played since being injured Oct. 22 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

REDSKINS HURTING

The Washington Redskins' offensive line is deteriorating as fast as the team's Super Bowl hopes.

The latest victim is left guard Keith Sims, who ruptured his left Achilles' tendon on the first series of Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Redskins' third consecutive defeat.

Sims had surgery Tuesday and was placed on injured reserve. Trainer Bubba Tyer said doctors found a "complete rupture" of the tendon, and Sims will need six months or more to recover.

"It's going to be a long rehab process," Tyer said.

Sims' roster spot was taken by safety Josh Symonette, who was activated from the practice squad.

Sims joins center Cory Raymer, out since training camp because of an injured right knee, and right guard TrHIGHBIT Johnson, who has missed the past eight games because of an injured left knee and is out for the season.

The Steelers' second-leading tackler, Lee Flowers, will miss the home finale against Washington.

Flowers sprained a knee in a loss to the New York Giants on Sunday. Rookie Ainsley Battles, an undrafted free agent from Vanderbilt, will replace Flowers.

Flowers underwent an MRI on Monday but declined to reveal the test results, because Coach Bill Cowher has a policy barring players from discussing their injuries.

JOHNSON THE ONE FOR BILLS

Buffalo quarterback Rob Johnson has taken plenty of hits on the field and from the media. He got a vote of confidence from the person who counts: Bills Coach Wade Phillips. "We're making yardage, and he's a high-rated passer. That's why we feel like he has a future," Phillips said. "He not only has potential; he's made plays throughout the season."

Phillips specifically noted Johnson's gutsy 12-yard touchdown run that sealed Buffalo's victory against the Kansas City Chiefs last month. The Bills (7-7) since have lost three straight games, eliminating them from playoff contention.

The Bills will play New England on Sunday.

CARDS MAY PLAY 3RD-STRINGER

With Jake Plummer and Dave Brown nursing injuries, the Arizona Cardinals may give third-stringer Chris Greisen his first NFL start Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Plummer and Brown didn't throw at all in practice. Plummer is listed as questionable and Brown probable for Sunday's game, but Greisen, a 1999 seventh-round draft pick from Northwest Missouri State, will start if neither of the others improves enough to practice by Friday, interim coach Dave McGinnis said.

Plummer sat out last week's loss to Jacksonville because of bruised ribs, and Brown left because of a sore finger.